Cultivator



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JAMES SHANK, OF CLAYTON, ILLINOIS.

CULTEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,948, dated April 10, 1888.

Application tiled January 16, 1888. Serial No. 260,857. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SHANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olaytomin the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Imp rovements in Cultivators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventiomsuoh as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to cultivators; and it consists in the peculiar construction, novel arrangement, and adaptation of devices, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

The invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cultivator embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the teeth with its spring removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the coupling between the beams and block, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the coupling.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates a truck having an arched axle,which may be of any ordinary or approved construction. Near opposite ends of the axle are couplings a for the attachment of the cultivatorbeams, as will be presently explained. These couplings are suitably connected to the axle and extend rearwardly in two perforated branches to receive a coupling-pin, b.

B B indicate the beams, which are parallel at their forward ends, as shown, and are perforated transversely to receive the connectingbolts. Between the forward straight end of these beams Bis secured one end of a connecting block or clip, the opposite end of which is secured to the coupling a by means of the pin 1). These beams are curved outwardly and rearwardly, as shown, and are braced at a proper point by means of transverse rods, 0. These rods are threaded at opposite ends and passed through apertures in the beams, after which they are secured by means of nuts d 6. These brace-rods are curved to accommodate the curvature of the beams and have clipped to them the forward ends of the handles.

E indicates the auxiliary beams or standards, which are of a form substantially as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. These auxiliary beams have their forward ends straight, so as to embrace the rear ends of the main beams, to which they are secured in pairs by means of bolts and nuts. From the straight portions f of these auxiliary beams they curve upwardly and outwardly, as shown at h, and terminate in concavo-convex ends 9, to the under side of which the spring-teeth are attached, as will be hereinafter set forth.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 5 that in the connection of the eultivators with the truck a narrow plate is used, which is made of metal and has a vertical tubular portion, b, at its forward end for the reception of the pin b,while in Fig. 4 its connection is shown as stout and made of wood, having an eye in its forward end for the reception of the said pin. It is obvious that either or both of these may be used, according to the choice of the mechanic or operator.

I have shown the auxiliary beams connected to the rear ends of the main beams by means of two sets of bolts, and the rear set of these bolts also secure the lower ends of braces F, the upper ends of which are firmly secured to the handles at a proper point and brace the same in position. These braces F are provided with a plurality of perforations, as shown at i, so that the handle may be secured thereto in a raised or lowered position, according to the height of the operator.

It will be observed that by having the bracerods 0 bent as shown and the brace also arranged in the manner specified the handles will assume an oblique position with respect to the cultivators,and their rear ends will extend outwardly in opposite directions, 'as better shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

G indicates the teeth,wliich are substantially of 8 form, the upper branch or curve conform ing to the curve of the auxiliary beams E, and are secured by means of clips and nuts in the under side thereof. Within the upper curve of the tooth is placed a springH, of IL; form. This spring H is of a less curvature in outline than the upper half of the springtooth, and is secured at one end to the upper end of the said tooth by means of a rivet or the like, as shown at k. The yoke or bent bolt Z, which attaches the tooth to the auxiliary standard, also embraces the spring H and normally holds its lower portion away from the said tooth, as better shown in Fig. 1.

In operation it will be seen that while the spring H will hold the tooth in the ground under ordinary circumstances, yet, should it meet with a stump, stone, or other obstruction, the spring will give and allow the tooth to pass the obstruction without danger.

The teeth are arranged obliquely with respectto the draft,and some of them are slightly twisted, so-as to permit the passage of weeds.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s- 1. In a cultivator, the combination,with the main beams, of the auxiliary beams, curved as shown, the spring-teeth, the spring secured at one end to the upper ends of the said teeth, and the yokcs securing both springs and teeth to the rear curved ends of the auxiliary beams, substantially as specified.

2. In an improved cultivator, the combination of the truck, the curved beams having their forward ends parallel and properly coupled to the truck or axle, the curved bracerods and securing-nuts, the curved handlebraces, the handle, the auxiliary beams, curved as shown, the spring-teeth, the springs secured at one end to the upper end of the said teeth, and the yokes securing both springs and teeth to the rear curved ends of the auxiliary beams, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES SHANK.

Witnesses:

THOMAS MAY, L. H. BLOWSE'I'T. 

